Downing's First County Deal - A Dozen Remain At Edgeley Park

Stockport County have announced the signing of Jordan Downing on his first senior contract with the Vanarama National League North club.

Currently the management team are in discussion with a number of players who are out of contract about their futures at the club and those talks will continue through this week. However, County have confirmed that a dozen players remain under contract for 2018/19.

Meanwhile, young defender Jordan Downing has agreed terms on his first senior contract with Stockport.

The 6'4" centre-half has impressed everyone at Edgeley Park after coming through the ranks of County’s academy to earn his first deal.

Manager Jim Gannon (pictured) told the club`s official website: “It’s great to see another young player from the academy earn a professional contract. Jordan has all the attributes to become a success at our level. For a central defender he has the key physical and defensive requirements. He is tall but technically good in the air. He’s also a ‘front foot’ defender who anticipates and times challenges well with the right aggression to win the ball. Jordan is also a confident footballer who displays a good range of control and passing skills.

“I’ve always said that youth is the lifeblood of our future, and there are many examples from our recent past of the part that our young players can play in our future growth. The challenge is there for Jordan to follow in the footsteps of Ashley Williams, Michael Raynes, Josh Thompson and James Tunnicliffe who all started their league careers as teenagers at Edgeley Park.

“The central defence is an area that the first-team has to plan well for future improvements due to the current predominance of part-time players in that position. I feel that Jordan has a self-confidence and maturity that well allow him to compete in the first-team squad this pre-season and over time will grow into a very capable first-team defender.”

Last season, Downing made two winning appearances in the Cheshire Senior Cup and came off the bench in the 3-0 Buildbase FA Trophy win over Kidderminster Harriers.

He was also included in Gannon’s squad for the Emirates FA Cup tie at FC United of Manchester.“The off-season programme training and the pre-season are an important time for our young players and I trust that this professional contract ensures a commitment to step up from Jordan. The recent departure of Jimmy Ball should act as a real tonic to our players, showing that working hard off-season, pre-season and in-season pays off,” Gannon added.